NO. 1 BLUE DRAGONS SQUARE OFF AGAINST NO. 4 IOWA WESTERN
BLUE DRAGON FOOTBALL |
No. 1 Hutchinson (9-0) at No. 4 Iowa Western (8-1) |
| When: Saturday, November 12, 2022 Site: Titan Stadium, Council Bluffs, Iowa Kickoff: 1 p.m. Radio: KHUT-FM (102.9), 12:30 p.m. - Glen Grunwald (PBP); Daren Dunn (Color) Video: Blue Dragon Sports Network, 12:30 p.m. Twitter: @bluedragonsport CLICK FOR BLUE DRAGON GAME NOTES (PDF Format) |
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
The final game of the 2022 regular season features the Jayhawk Conference champion against the Iowa Conference champion on Saturday.
The No. 1-ranked Hutchinson Community College Football team travels to the No. 4 Iowa Western Reivers at 1 p.m. at Titan Stadium in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
The ramifications of Saturday's matchup are simple. The Blue Dragons are fighting for a Top-2 seed for the NJCAA National Playoffs and to host a national semifinal game. The Reivers are battling for their playoff lives after falling to Coffeyville last week.
The Blue Dragons are riding a 15-game winning streak into Saturday's matchup after a 53-0 victory over Independence last week at Gowans Stadium. The Blue Dragon defense set the tone on the first drive with a sack/fumble by Rodney Green Jr. which was returned for a 25-yard touchdown by Ja'Mez Drummer. The Blue Dragons allowed just 63 total yards and four first downs to the Pirates last week.
After taking an early 7-0 lead over Coffeyville last Saturday in Coffeyville, Iowa Western was stung by a blocked field goal and 62-yard return for a touchdown and the Red Ravens rode the wave of that momentum for a 23-7 victory over the then-No. 2 Reivers. Iowa Western more than doubled Coffeyville in total yardage (325-158) and had 21 first downs to the Red Ravens' five. The Reivers committed four turnovers against Coffeyville.
Saturday's game features two of the top defenses in the NJCAA.
The Blue Dragons are second in the nation in scoring defense at 10.1 points allowed per game. The Reivers are No. 1 at 9.8 points per game. The Blue Dragons rank 10th in total yards allowed (252.1 ypg), fifth in rushing defense (70.0 ypg) and 22nd in pass defense (182.1 ypg). The Reivers rank No. 2 in total defense (165.8 ypg), No. 2 in rushing defense (40.7 ypg) and No. 5 in pass defense (125.1 ypg).
Saturday's matchup also features 2 of the 3 finalists for the inaugural Walter Jones Trophy, which represents the top player in the NJCAA this season. Blue Dragon sophomore quarterback Dylan Laible and Iowa Western defensive end Jackson Filer are both finalists for the award.
The Blue Dragons are 2-4 all-time against Iowa Western, 1-2 at Titan Stadium. The last trip to Council Bluffs for Hutchinson was a 34-27 Blue Dragon victory in 2019,